Jonathan Swift(1667–1745)
A Description of the Morning
N o w hardly h e r e a n d t h e r e a h a c k n e y - c o a c h 1
A p p e a r i n g , s h o w e d t h e ruddy m o r n ' s a p p r o a c h .
N o w B e t t y f r o m h e r master's b e d h a d f l o w n ,
A n d softly stole t o d i s c o m p o s e h e r o w n ;
T h e s l i p - s h o d 'prentice f r o m his master's d o o r
H a d p a r e d t h e dirt a n d sprinkled r o u n d t h e f l o o r .
Now Moll 2 had whirled her mop with dext'rous airs,
Prepared to scrub the entry and the stairs.
The youth with broomy stumps began to trace
T h e k e n n e l - e d g e , 3 w h e r e w h e e l s h a d w o r n t h e p l a c e .
The small-coal man 4 was heard with cadence deep,
Till drowned in shriller notes of chimney-sweep:
Duns 0 at his lordship's gate began to meet;bill collectors
And brickdust Moll 5 had screamed through half the street.
The turnkey 0 now his flock returning sees,jailer
Duly let out a-nights to steal for fees: 6
T h e w a t c h f u l bailiffs7 take their s i l e n t s t a n d s ,
A n d s c h o o l b o y s lag w i t h s a t c h e l s i n their h a n d s .